Match report: Gainsborough 0-4 Stags

Mansfield Town enjoyed a free-flowing and comprehensive 4-0 victory over Gainsborough Trinity in Lincolnshire this evening.

Stags fielded a strong side against tier five outfit Gainsborough, with an XI made up completely of first team players completed 90 minutes at The Northolme.

Under 21s head coach Mike Whitlow and senior professional development coach Richard Cooper oversaw proceedings and a brace from striker Omari Sterling-James and strikes from wingers CJ Hamilton and Alfie Potter ensured Stags secured a dominant win.

The home side began on the front foot and they won a corner inside three minutes. Nathan Jarman almost opened the scoring from the flag kick with an acrobatic overhead kick, forcing goalkeeper Conrad Logan tipping the effort comfortably over the bar to safety.

But it was just three minutes later when Stags opened the scoring. Sterling-James received the ball from a Joel Byrom free-kick and he cut inside the defender in the box and the former Solihull Moors man curled a lovely effort into the top corner.

Sterling-James continued to impress when he found CJ Hamilton lurking on the edge of the box. Hamilton received the ball, but the shot lacked conviction, taking a deflection on its path to goal.

Frontman Jimmy Spencer had his first attempt of the match, but his stinging volley had too much pace and power, flying over the bar.

The hosts were not without opportunities and kept the Stags on their toes with two consecutive openings in quick succession from corners, where Gainsborough posed their greatest threat.

Late in the first-half, Spencer fed Sterling-James through on goal and with just Richard Walton to beat in between the sticks, the shot rebounded against the upright and denied Sterling-James a second.

Winger CJ Hamilton did, however, put the visitors two-goals-to-the-good in the 38th minute.

Spencer received a pass into his feet and controlled brilliantly with his right foot before swivelling and volleying the ball into the path of Hamilton. The former Sheffield United winger thumped his effort against the post, but it hit the 'keeper on the way out and found the back of the net.

The first chance of the second-half fell to Sterling-James, who found himself with a clear sight of goal but fired high of the target.

Soon after, Spencer spurned an opportunity as his low effort flew inches wide of the post and midfielder Thomas also tested the waters with an effort from 22 yards, but Trinity 'keeper Walton held his shot comfortably.

The highly-impressive Sterling-James grabbed his second of the game in the 61st minute.

The lively Alfie Potter drove in-field with the ball and threaded it through for Hamilton on the left and although his shot was deflected, it fell kindly for Sterling-James, who swept home a volley from eight yards out.

Sterling-James' confidence was high and he almost had his hat-trick five minutes later when his swerving effort stung the palms of Walton in the 66th minute.

Then came the goal of the night. Potter picked up the ball on the right hand touchline and carried it 40 yards before firing into the bottom corner from 10 yards out to cap off a fine performance from the former Northampton man.

Alex Simmons went closest for the hosts, unleashing a pile-driver from 20-yards out that flew narrowly over the bar with ten minutes to play.

A busy final five minutes contained an Alfie Potter effort which was stopped on the line by the outstretched arm of Walton.

The home side counter-attacked and Logan raced off his line before using his whole body to deny the home side a consolation and preserved Stags' clean sheet.